Democratic Alliance (DA) federal chairperson Helen Zille has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent comments on the performance of municipalities.
Speaking at a gathering of ANC councillors in Johannesburg, President Ramaphosa acknowledged that many municipalities under ANC control are struggling to deliver basic services. He pointed to DA-led councils, such as Cape Town and Stellenbosch, as examples of better-run municipalities that could serve as a benchmark.
Zille said she was glad the president admitted that DA municipalities are often better managed. She stated that healthy competition between parties is good for democracy and that if the ANC studies the DA’s governance model, communities across the country could ultimately benefit.
The president’s comments sparked mixed reactions within his own party. Some ANC councillors accepted the critique, acknowledging that issues like poor funding, staff shortages, and frequent leadership changes hamper performance. Others, however, were displeased that he praised a rival party in front of ANC members, arguing it weakened the party’s image.
Political observers note that while DA municipalities generally perform better, direct comparisons should also consider differences in resources and political stability. Despite this, they agree that cross-party learning is essential if leaders are serious about improving service delivery for all South Africans.